Willa Vennema’s Path to Becoming an Established Encaustic Artist Will Inspire You

Willa Vennema’s life is as wonderfully layered as the encaustic pieces she creates. Raised by art-loving parents in New York City, she became a talented flautist, attending what is now called the LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts—the school that inspired the ‘80 film, television series, and musical, “Fame.” She also began a decades-long relationship with Swan’s Island, a remote enclave in Hancock County, Maine, that claims its musical connection through the 32-year-old Sweet Chariot Music Festival. While studying at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, Willa realized a newfound passion for the visual arts, spurred on by courses in art history and printmaking. She would go on to become an arts-focused preschool teacher, eventually moving with her family to Southern Maine. Swan’s Island has remained her muse throughout this time, and her art—developed through layers of color and wax–embodies her continued evolution. Join our conversation with Willa Vennema on today’s episode of Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.

This artist is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view their art.